Conversations with Ministry Leaders

Episode 15 Andrew McKenna leads church relations at  Worship Initiative  after serving as a worship pastor for over 20 years. In this  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , he shares valuable insights about the current state of worship ministry. He talks to us about creating visual standards for worship teams. The bar for entry has risen significantly. Today's worship teams use click tracks and...

Episode 14 Jenny Altman joins  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  from the  Onward  conference to discuss elevating your church's visual communication. First, she explains the difference between good and great design.  Good design communicates your message effectively. However, great design creates lasting emotional impact that people remember. Next, Jenny covers essential design fundamentals...

Episode 13 In this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  we talk about small churches facing significant challenges especially with digital ministries. In fact, 70% of South Carolina state's 1,900 Baptist churches are plateauing or declining. Meanwhile, many congregations struggle with limited resources and staff wearing multiple hats. Alex Lions and Hannah Coleman from the  South Ca...

Episode 12 Join us for an inspiring episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  with Randy Kirby, worship pastor at  First Baptist Simpsonville . Randy has served faithfully for 30 years. Moreover, he shares invaluable insights about ministry longevity and building lasting legacy. Tune in to learn about the visual evolution of modern worship. First, Randy discusses the keys to staying strong i...

Episode 11 Worship leaders face increasing expectations beyond music. Today, they manage teams, budgets, and creative departments. However, many feel unprepared for these expanded roles. We're talking about building worship team unity and more on the  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  podcast. Adam Westlake from  Worship Initiative  joins Carl Barnhill to discuss comprehensive worship minist...

Episode 10 Andrew Lucius joins  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  to discuss worship ministry trends at  Charleston Southern University . He talks about building worship teams and some of the trends for visuals in worship. First, he shares how COVID-19 initially devastated worship programs across the country. However, his program has bounced back dramatically. They've grown from just four ma...

Episode 9 Join us in this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , as we talk with worship pastor John Green from  Riverland Hills  in Columbia, South Carolina. He shares essential insights for worship leaders, with a focus on "sacred visuals" or liturgical elements. John works at his church, leading choir, orchestra, and congregation during weekly gatherings. He dives into some...

Episode 8 Digital discipleship is transforming how churches connect with their communities. In this episode of   Conversation with Ministry Leaders  we sit down with Kevin Martin, IT Director at the  South Carolina Baptist Convention . Kevin shares his insights on the critical role technology plays in modern ministry. In fact he explains how technology and visuals transform church Growth. First, h...

Episode 7 Josh Epton and Julie McNeely from Church of the Mill in Spartanburg, South Carolina join  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  and share their expertise on building thriving worship choirs. First, they discuss how  choirs are making a comeback after years of decline.  Many churches removed choirs during the praise and worship movement. However, leaders now recognize the void this created....

Episode 6 Worship leader Jonathan Hazle joins the  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  show to discuss building authentic worship bands. First, he emphasizes that worship teams should reflect their congregation, not copy other churches. Instead, leaders must focus on the people God has entrusted to them each Sunday. He also talks about using visuals for worship. Next, Jonathan explores how song se...

Episode 5 Church elder and financial planner Raz Bradley joins us in this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders . He shares his journey into AI tools for churches and ministry. He's currently subscribed to four AI platforms after testing six or seven options. His favorites include  Suno AI  for music generation,  ChatGPT  for creative work, and  Midjourney  for image creation. Bradley...

Episode 4 Michael Whittle joins  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  to discuss his journey with  Pulpit AI . He worked in startups for 15 years in advertising and ad tech. However, his passion for ministry never faded. After planting a church in Los Angeles in 2015, he accidentally discovered the intersection of AI and church technology. Pulpit AI exists to amplify local church pastors' voice...

Episode 3 Join us for an engaging   Conversation with Ministry Leaders . In this episode we chat with Owen Video, a YouTube coach specializing in church and ministry content. Owen shares his unique journey to faith through apologetics and biblical archaeology. He helps unpack how we can use visuals that convert viewers. Throughout the episode, Owen reveals proven strategies for churches looking to...

Episode 2 In this latest episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , Samuel Dueth from Awaken Church in San Diego joins the show to discuss multi-campus ministry and discipleship resources. Awaken Church operates 11 campuses across multiple states. Each campus has live preaching pastors rather than simulcast services. He talks to us about visuals in multi-site ministry. Samuel authored "...

Episode 1 Welcome to a new season of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders . In this episode we sit down with Nils Smith to talk social media and specifically what are essential visuals for church social media. First, we explore his eight-year journey serving in ministry at Hillsong. Then, dive deep into social media strategy for churches. Nils shares practical wisdom from his book " The Social...

Episode 12 Join us for an insightful  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  with Justin Nava from  Nava Church Marketing . He specializes in helping churches build effective online presences. Throughout this episode, we explore the critical role websites play in modern church outreach and using visuals to communicate the church's message. First, we discuss why church websites matter so much toda...

Episode 11 In this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , our host Carl Barnhill welcomes back frequent guest and friend, Ben Stapely to discuss the transformative practice and power of sermon review. First, Ben shares his 20-year ministry experience, explaining how sermon review saved both his ministry and marriage by creating healthier boundaries. Moreover, he emphasizes that reviewing...

Episode 10 In this insightful  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , we hear from Jay Kranda, an online church veteran with over 13 years of experience at  Saddleback Church . Despite his digital expertise, Jay challenges the notion that "online church is the answer." Instead, he emphasizes that simply streaming services is not enough. Online ministry is more than just streaming. Churches...

Episode 9 In this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  we sit down with Jeremy, founder of  Church Coach Ministries , to talk about the power of church visuals. He shares his nine-year journey of helping churches maximize their potential. First, Jeremy explains how his company focuses on four key areas: space design, stewardship training, assimilation training, and vision campaigns. Whe...

Episode 8 With another episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , we chat with William Vanderbloemen about visual leadership and the qualities that make someone stand out immediately. He shares insights from his extensive research analyzing 30,000 "unicorn" leaders. Surprisingly, these standout individuals don't fit stereotypical molds. Instead, they practice 12 specific habits...

Episode 7 In this insightful  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , we sit down with Daniel, former VP of Product and Engineering at  Tithe.ly  to talk about how authentic visuals build church connections. He oversaw both the product and engineering teams that built powerful software solutions for churches. First, Daniel shares about  Tithe.ly 's vision behind hosting the  Modern Church Leader...

Episode 6 Join us for an insightful conversation with Steve Fog, on this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders . Steve is an online campus pastor from Crossway Church in Melbourne and he understands that every pixel matters. Here he shares his journey from being a corporate graphic designer to transforming church visuals and online ministry. Initially skeptical of Christianity himself, St...

Episode 5 In this episode of  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , Carl Barnhill sits down with Wes Gay, a certified  StoryBrand expert, to discuss effective communication in church ministry. Together they are discussing solving real problems in church messaging. First, they explore how churches often struggle to communicate clearly and compellingly about their events and initiatives. Next, Wes ex...

Episode 4 Pastor John Amanchukwu brings a powerful message on  Conversation with Ministry Leaders  about Visual Gospel and how to communicate the truth in this modern day. He talks about his conviction in today's challenging cultural landscape. With a name that means "I know God," he shares his passionate mission to protect children and defend Christian values in public spaces. Drawi...

Episode 3 In this engaging  Conversation with Ministry Leaders , host Carl Barnhill sits down with Dean Sweetman, founder of  Tithe.ly . Together they discuss the power of digital generosity. Dean shares his remarkable journey from Australian surfer to church tech innovator. After a powerful salvation experience at 17, Dean found himself unexpectedly preaching and leading people to Christ. From th...